At 4Candles, we've always tried to do right by our customers — and that means doing right by the environment too. So we're pleased to share a change we've been quietly working on over the last couple of months: we've switched our order packaging from plastic to a recycled, compostable paper alternative.
Why We Made the Switch
Previously, we used branded plastic air bags to protect items in your order. They were recyclable, but we felt we could do better. After extensive trialling over the past two months, we've moved to a paper-based packaging fill that ticks a lot more boxes:
- Made in the UK from recycled materials
- Supports renewable forestry
- More widely recyclable than plastic
- Fully compostable
- Can be reused when you're fulfilling your own orders
The feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we've now sent several thousand orders using the new packaging.
What to Expect
If you receive an order and notice the old plastic fill, don't worry — we're not buying any new plastic packaging, but we are working through our existing stock responsibly rather than sending it straight to waste. It may take some time before it's fully phased out, but every order brings us a step closer to being completely plastic-free.
Part of a Bigger Picture
This isn't a one-off change. Sustainability is something we think about across the whole business. We've already discontinued single-use plastic fragrance oil bottles, and we work with three local recycling companies to make sure as little waste as possible ends up in landfill. Currently, more than 85% of our waste is recycled — and we're always looking at ways to push that further.
We're proud to be a candle making supplier that takes this seriously, and we'll keep you updated as we make further improvements.